Project Phase

Project Summary

Scottsdale Water is upgrading Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV) vaults within the City’s potable water distribution system to ensure reliable water service by replacing aging Infrastructure. The upgrades are needed because several PRV vaults are decades old and are not built to current standards. Some vaults are missing important pipelines and appurtenances such as a bypass pipeline to provide more flow if there were emergency conditions. The vault upgrades will also make it safe for Scottdale Water maintain the infrastructure inside the vault.

Project Information

Budget: $1.4M (budgeted for construction of Phase 2)

Sponsoring Division: Water

Funding Source: Bonded

Project Location: PRV 64: NWC of Desert Highlands Dr and Golf Club Dr (in Desert Highlands subdivision); • PRV 65: North side of Golf Club Dr and Club Estates Dr intersection (in Desert Highlands subdivision)

Contact Information

Jerry Irish
Project Manager
480-312-3481
Jerry Irish

This project also involves an optimization analysis and implementation.  The overall water distribution system will be evaluated by examining existing pipe sizes, flows and pressures to determine if water pressure increases or decreases are needed based on demand and pressure.

Project Overview

A PRV vault’s purpose is to reduce or relieve built up pressure and reduce that pressure to an acceptable range of 30-120 psi. Water pressure varies around the city and can be dependent on location and elevation. 

High pressured water can cause excess wear on pipes which then must be repaired or replaced more frequently. High pressure is also likely to cause pipe breaks which can result in a loss of water or an outage.   If we didn’t have PRVs in the public water system, water would be flowing thru homes and buildings at such high pressures that it could cause damage to plumbing fixtures, including breaks and failures.

While operating and maintaining the City’s Potable Water Distribution System, Scottsdale Water staff have determined numerous existing PRV vaults with aging appurtenances that are not conforming to City of Scottsdale’s standard design. Most of the identified PRV vaults to be upgraded were originally constructed by the developer of the subject community or subdivision.

The rehabilitation of PRV vaults is set to occur in phases with about 3-4 PRV vaults to be designed and constructed in each phase. A total of 5 phases are budgeted in the current CIP.

Project Schedule

The first phase began design in early 2021 and construction was completed in 2023 with upgrading PRV Vaults 61, 62 and 63, all located in Desert Highlands subdivision. 

The second phase started in late 2023 with planning to upgrade PRV Vaults 64, 65 and 66, located in Desert Highlands subdivision and PRV Vault 165, located in Desert Mountain in the Village of Painted Sky.

Future phases (subject to add to or change):

Phase 3: PRV Vaults 32, 67 and 37

  • PRV 32 is in McCormick Ranch
  • PRV 67 is in Desert Highlands subdivision
  • PRV 37 is in Eagles Glen subdivision

Phase 4: PRV Vaults 36, 39 and 68

  • PRV 36 is in Eagles Glen subdivision
  • PRV 39 is at the intersection of Shea Blvd and 124th St
  • PRV 68 is in Desert Highlands subdivision

Phase 5: PRV Vaults 69, 359 and 335

  • PRV 69 is in Desert Highlands subdivision
  • PRV 359 is at the intersection of Indian School Rd and 75th St
  • PRV 335 is at the intersection of Scottsdale Rd and Doubletree Ranch Rd

***Future phases are likely to be identified and added to CIP